WSR 25-19-101
EMERGENCY RULES
DEPARTMENT OF
FISH AND WILDLIFE
[Order 25-222—Filed September 17, 2025, 10:53 a.m., effective September 18, 2025]
Effective Date of Rule: September 18, 2025.
Purpose: This emergency rule is needed to make adult Chinook retention in Snake River mark selective.
Citation of Rules Affected by this Order: Repealing WAC 220-312-05000K; and amending WAC 220-312-050.
Under RCW
34.05.350 the agency for good cause finds that immediate adoption, amendment, or repeal of a rule is necessary for the preservation of the public health, safety, or general welfare, and that observing the time requirements of notice and opportunity to comment upon adoption of a permanent rule would be contrary to the public interest.
Reasons for this Finding: This rule is necessary to make adult Chinook retention mark selective in the Snake River. Conversion rates of Snake River fall Chinook from Bonneville Dam upstream are well below average. Based on these lower conversion rates the number of wild fish impacts available to the fishery have decreased. By going to mark selective fisheries, harvest opportunity can be extended while minimizing impacts to wild fish.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Comply with Federal Statute: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Federal Rules or Standards: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Recently Enacted State Statutes: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted at the Request of a Nongovernmental Entity: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted on the Agency's own Initiative: New 1, Amended 0, Repealed 1.
Number of Sections Adopted in Order to Clarify, Streamline, or Reform Agency Procedures: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Number of Sections Adopted using Negotiated Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; Pilot Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0; or Other Alternative Rule Making: New 0, Amended 0, Repealed 0.
Date Adopted: September 17, 2025.
Kelly Susewind
Director
NEW SECTION
WAC 220-312-05000LFreshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside.
Effective September 18 through October 31, 2025, the following provisions of WAC 220-312-050, regarding salmon seasons in the Snake River shall be open as described in this section, all other provisions of WAC 220-312-050 remain in effect unless modified by emergency rule:
(1) Snake River: From the red river marker (Marker 28) on the south shore of the Snake River upstream to the Highway 261 bridge (approx. 1.4 mi.):
Salmon: Effective September 18 through October 26, 2025:
(a) Open Thursdays through Sundays each week. Closed Mondays through Wednesdays each week.
(b) Daily limit 2 adult hatchery Chinook. No daily limit for jack Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery adult Chinook and jack Chinook.
(c) Barbless hooks required.
(d) Salmon may not be removed from the water unless to be retained as part of the daily limit.
(2) Snake River: From the downstream edge of the large power lines crossing the Snake River (just upstream from West Evans Road on the south shore, approximately 3 miles below Clarkston) upstream to the Washington/Idaho state line:
Salmon:
(a) Effective September 18, 2025:
(i) Daily limit 3 adult Chinook. No daily limit for jack Chinook. Release all salmon other than Chinook.
(ii) Barbless hooks required.
(iii) Salmon may not be removed from the water unless to be retained as part of the daily limit.
(b) Effective September 19 through October 15, 2025:
(i) Daily limit 3 adult hatchery Chinook. No daily limit for jack Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery adult Chinook and jack Chinook.
(ii) Barbless hooks required.
(iii) Salmon may not be removed from the water unless to be retained as part of the daily limit.
(3) Snake River: From the Washington/Idaho state line to the Oregon state line:
Salmon:
(a) Effective September 18, 2025:
(i) Daily limit 3 adult Chinook. No daily limit for jack Chinook. Release all salmon other than Chinook.
(ii) Barbless hooks required.
(iii) Salmon may not be removed from the water unless to be retained as part of the daily limit.
(b) Effective September 19 through October 15, 2025:
(i) Daily limit 3 adult hatchery Chinook. No daily limit for jack Chinook. Release all salmon other than hatchery adult Chinook and jack Chinook.
(ii) Barbless hooks required.
(iii) Salmon may not be removed from the water unless to be retained as part of the daily limit.
REPEALER
The following section of Washington Administrative Code is repealed, effective September 18, 2025:
WAC 220-312-05000K | Freshwater exceptions to statewide rules—Eastside. (25-174) |